The head of the youth department, Asaf Grenstein, summarizes the 25/26 season in an interview for the official website: "The fact that our teams played quality football and reached achievements teaches us about the players' level."
The club's youth department has concluded the 25/26 season - which was challenging, educational, satisfying, and full of action. With the end of the season, the head of the department, Asaf Grenstein, took the time to summarize: The past year ("Competitiveness is far from being the main thing, but it is important for player development"), the integration of academy graduates into the senior team ("A great sense of satisfaction and pride"), the youth team ("Great player material, they can be proud of themselves"), the day-to-day work with the players ("The broad staffs allow us to reach players on a personal level") and the goals ("To develop the individual and strive to promote as many players as possible to the first team"). The full interview is before you.
We are wrapping up an intensive and fascinating season in the youth department. If you had to summarize this season in a sentence or two from your perspective as the professional manager, how would you describe it?
"First, I must say that I am glad we managed to complete the season, even if not entirely in full (the senior leagues were shortened by three rounds), and that we had the privilege to engage in football and be on the pitches. This is not to be taken for granted in the complex period our country is going through, and for the children and youth in the academy, the activity is very important, especially in times like these.
Professionally, the season was very successful. The first and main thing is that the senior team continues to integrate quite a few players who grew up in the youth department. This is important for the club, makes us all happy, and provides a great sense of satisfaction and pride. In addition, it was possible to see in all our teams this year that there is a very large amount of talented players with the potential to advance in the club and reach the senior team. Also on a competitive level, the youth team was there until the very last moment in the championship race, something that hasn't happened in the department for many years, the U17 (Nearim A) and U16 (Nearim B) teams won the State Cup, and all of them finished in the upper part of the tables. While this is far from being the main thing in a youth department, competitiveness is also important for the players' development, and the fact that our teams played quality football and reached achievements also says something about the level of the players."
What was the most significant moment or game for you this season, a moment where you felt our path is working?
"I think the vast majority of our teams' games showed that the department has a very clear DNA: all teams play football that strives to control the pace of the game, press high, and apply our specific principles. When we see all the teams playing in this style, it is very meaningful for us, because this is the way we believe the players will develop best. If I have to choose a few games, and it's really not easy, then the U16 team's game in the league derby, the U17 game against Maccabi Netanya in the first round of the league, and surprisingly a game we didn't win with the youth team (U19), away against Maccabi Haifa, which was an excellent game by the team. We played great football there. These are three games where the teams played quality football for most stages of the game and we managed to create a lot of scoring chances."
The youth team had an excellent season. We were a touching distance from the championship plate, which slipped through our fingers in the end only due to goal difference. How do you summarize such a season to the players and what distinguished this team this season?
"We went through a challenging and overall positive season in the Youth Premier League. We were the team that led the table for most of the rounds this season. We felt that because of the player material and the team's wonderful staff, we could make history and win the youth championship after many years. I must say that the players were very competitive until the last moment, and as proof, from the moment we returned from the war, we won all the league games until the end. Ultimately, we didn't win the championship, which was naturally disappointing, but I think the players can be proud of themselves, of the commitment and ability they showed throughout this entire season. I think what distinguished the youth team this year is that it was very diverse. Both in the style of the players (very high-quality players with the ball alongside players with good defensive abilities and strong character) and in their personality structures, alongside a very cohesive and special dressing room."
One of the success metrics for a youth department is producing players for the senior team. This season we saw the integration of academy graduates in the first team. How do you view this transition process, how do we prepare them for it, and how is the joint work with the professional staff of the senior team?
"The transition between the youth and senior levels for football players is very important. In Israeli football, it is also often particularly challenging, since there is no intermediate league for developing young players, there is the issue of the army of course, and so on. Every player has their own path and trajectory. There are those who will manage to reach the senior team already at youth age, others at a later stage, and some will go out on loan and try to make their way back in the future. A player can develop at an earlier/later age. The fact that a player won't reach Hapoel's senior team at an early stage doesn't necessarily mean their career will be worse than a player who did manage to do so. At the end of the process, they need talent, a strong personality structure, and mental resilience over time.
The tools the players receive in Hapoel's youth department are very diverse. Every team in the older division has a head coach, an assistant coach, in some teams a second assistant coach, one/two analysts, a fitness coach, a mental coach/sports psychologist, a nutritionist, and a physiotherapy team; they receive enrichment training, gym workouts, and many other tools. In the younger division, the work is much more individual, with team training and enrichment training in small groups based mainly on personal technique, athletic, and coordinative abilities. The broad staffs allow us to reach players on a personal level.
The integration between the youth department and the senior team at Hapoel is amazing. This is my eighth year at the club, and I can say that today the connection between the departments is at its peak. Today, Hapoel has a very strong and experienced management backbone, from the CEO and the Technical Director, and of course with the team's professional staff. There is cooperation in the physical, mental, and athletic systems. In the senior team, there are professionals who came through the youth department, which is another thing that helps the collaboration."
What differentiates Hapoel Tel Aviv's youth department from other youth departments? We know there is a lot of competition for young talents, why should a player choose us and not another club?
"Every club, certainly among the big clubs, will say it is the best. As someone who teaches coaching courses at the Association and has known the world of youth departments for many years, I can say two things with certainty: the human relations at Hapoel are the best, and our youth department teaches football in the best possible way. We have human capital that exists nowhere else. This is the strength of this department. This combination of a big club, a youth department that integrates young players into the senior team, develops the players' self-confidence, and teaches them the principles of the game well - is a combination that only exists with us. That is why I think a player who chooses Hapoel, no matter where they came from, will increase their chances of developing a career at the highest levels."
This season set a high bar. What are the main goals and targets you have set for the youth department ahead of the next season?
"The ultimate goal for us will always be the same - to develop the individual and strive to promote as many players as possible to the first team. As a department, we will want to develop in all areas: fitness and physical building, analysis and technology, scouting, psychology, and education, and constantly identify new trends in the football world and gradually mediate those that fit our style, according to ages, to the department's players."
With a massive 5:1 Derby victory, our U17 team lifted the State Cup for the 25/26 season! Friedman (brace), Ganaim, Melihi, and Ben Moshe scored
The State Cup final brought Hapoel and Maccabi together this evening (Wednesday) for a Tel Aviv Derby played at the Green Stadium in Nof HaGalil.
The dominance of Ohad Ashkenazi's boys was clear from the very first moment. The first half ended 3:0 with goals from Omer Friedman, Fouad Ganaim, and Ilay Melihi.
The opponent pulled one back at the start of the second half, but Friedman completed his brace and Yuval Ben Moshe sealed the final score - 5:1 to the Reds!
Incredible job, our young Reds!
Photo courtesy: Amir Cohen, Israel Football Association
The youth team returned to league action after a two-month break, securing a playoff win with goals from Levy, Olezki, Talmi, and Chosyd.
Our U19 team hosted Maccabi Petah Tikva at Bat Yam Stadium for Matchday 23 of the Youth Premier League, returning to the pitch after a forced hiatus due to the war.
Match Highlights:
5': Hapoel strikes first! Omri Levy pounced on a rebound from Ofer Gelbard's shot to net his 7th league goal of the season.
Second Half: A straight red card for a Maccabi PT player following a foul on Ron Talmi handed Hapoel complete control of the game.
55': Ravid Olezki initiated a brilliant run from the left, exchanged passes with Levy inside the box, and tapped into an empty net to double the lead.
75': Alon Moskovitz set up Ron Talmi at the edge of the box, who fired into the bottom right corner for his 8th goal of the season.
90+': Deep into stoppage time, Itamar Chosyd intercepted a pass in the opponent's box and smashed it home. 4:0 at the final whistle.
Shahar Vizinger's squad returns to winning ways, maintaining 2nd place in the table with 48 points - just three points off the top with five matches remaining.
Hapoel Lineup: Ynal Bazdog, Ilay Muri, Guy Aligulashvili, Giorgi Kuprava, Ofer Gelbard (Henley Agbo, 77'), Yarin Shiovitz (Elad Ben Shimon, 69'), Itamar Chosyd, Alon Moskovitz, Ravid Olezki (Noam George, 81'), Ron Talmi (Maky Benbenisty, 77'), Omri Levi (Shahar Nahum, 69')